Amusement device



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AMUS EMENT DEVICE I g Y n o /g Wj@ TW E---5 IF*- E Oct. 13, 1925. 1.557255 S. B. KISER A A'MUs EMENT DEVICE Filed JulyA 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwvefntoz atto 1 I m Oct. '13, 1925. 1,557,255

. S. B. KISER AMUS EMNT DEVICE Eiled July 18, 1924 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 Det. w, w25., 1,557,255

S. EL KSER AMUS EMENT- DEVICE Filed July 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "jme/mtu iser,

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

SAMUEL B. KISER, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed July 18, 1924. Serial No. 726,704.

T0 all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. Krsna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices especially adapted for public entertainment and has for an object the provision of a device which will afford amusement and entertainment for any number of persons and in which the skill of the players forms an importantJ factor.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of an amusement device which may be located in a public park or other place of amusement to test the skill of the players and by means of which awards may be made in accordance with the particular skill of each individual player.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an amusement device which includes the above and other advantages and which in addition is simple in construction, reliable in operation and may be manufactured in a pleasing and attractive design.

llith the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the current distributor mechanism of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the indicator board and a portion of the pla-yers counter.

Figure 3 is an end view of the subject matter of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 8.

Figure 7 is a top view partly broken away showing the indicator board illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the player7s counter.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the selector circuit.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring of the indicating elements and the distributing device.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention includes an indicator board which is designated generally by the reference character 15 and shown in Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings. This indicator board may be of any suitable size and design and is shown as supported at each end bya post 16, and thelatter are surmounted by electriclamps 17. For purposes of description these lamps will be hereinafter referred to as main indicating elements in that they indicate the result of an operation of the device.

The board 15 further includes a plurality of what may be hereinafter referred to as auxiliary indicating elements and which are designated at 18. These elements 18 may be of any suitable character but are preferably in the form of a transparent panel or picture. These panels or pictures may be placed between sheet glass so as to keep them in proper condition and may be surrounded by frames19. The panels 1S are designed to be illuminated and forthis purpose there is provided a lamp for each panel, the lamps being indicated by the letters a to t inclusive. These lamps are arranged within separate lamp compartments or chambers 20 shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, so that the light from one lamp will illuminate only its particula-r panel yor picture.

The panels or pictures 18 are adapted to be illuminated singly and their order of illumination may be arranged as desired. For example, they may be successively illuminated beginning with a and ending with n, or they may be illuminated in alphabetical order with the alphabet arranged as shown in Figure 2. The wiring arrangement illustrated provides for their illumination in alphabetical order. To provide for this the invention includes a current distributing mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and l of the drawings. This mechanism includes a `base 21 which maybe suitably supported and arranged in any position with relation to the board 15. Mounted uponthis basev is an electric'motor 22 whose shaft is operatively connected to a shaft 28 by means of work gearing 24. The shaft 23 is mounted in suitable bearings 25 uponthe base A21 and has a belt and pulley connect-ion 26 with a shaft 27 which is also mounted in suitable bearings. The shaft 27 has secured thereon a rotatable contact member or 'collector cylinder 28 which is engaged by one end ot a contact arm 29. The opposite end of this contact arm is hingedly or pivotally mounted as shown at 30.

Secured upon the shaft 28 is a distributor arm 31, the outer end of which'carries spaced spring lingersror contacts 32 and 33. The last mentioned contact travels over spaced circtunferentially arranged contacts 34 which are mounted upon a board or panel 35. The spring contact 32 travels over spaced radially arranged contacts 36 which are electrically connected in any desired manner, a conductor wire 37 being shown for that purpose. The contacts 34 are insulated from one another by means of an insulating block 38, the finger engaging faces of these contacts being curved as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings so that a quick make and break operation is provided as the finger 33 travels over these contacts.

The number of contacts 34 is the same as the number of panels 18 that is, thereis one contact 34 for each of the panel lamps. The contacts 34 are indicated at a, b and so forth and may be arranged in the order' shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Each contact 34 .is electrically connected with one of the lamps a to t inclusive, the contact a being connected to the lamp a. For this purpose there is provided conductor wires 39. Current for the lamps c to t inclusive may be supplied from any suitable source and for this purpose there is provided a conductor wire 40, which is connected to and extends along the arm 29 and is secured to a contact member 41 at the outer end of the said arm. The collector cylinder 28 is connected by means of a conductor 42 with the spring contacts 32 and 33.

Current may thus flow through the conductor'40, the contact 41, the collector cylinder 28, the conductor 42, the spring contact finger 33, through the particular contact 34 with which the inger 32 engages, From this contact member 34. current will flow through its conductor 39, the respective lamp with one ot the transparent panels 18., from this lamp through a' conductor 43 to a return wire 44 which :is common to all of the lamps of the transparent panels. Thev conductor 44 is tapped on to a common'return wire 45 which leads back 5to the source of current. Thus when the.=distributor arm `31 is rotated, the contact -finger 33, will wipe over the con tacts` 34,-.to singly illuminate `each of the lamps cto t.

,Y ,lamps .17 are connected by` aconduc-` tor 45 and one ofthese lamps has connected thereto the common return wire 45. The other` lamp 17 is connected by means of a conductor 47 with one end of the conductor 37 which connects the spaced contacts 36. 3y this means in addition to singly lighting the lamps of each of the transparent panels, the lamps 17 will be intermittently lighted, current flowing through the conductor 42 of the distributing arm, the contact 32, one oi the plates 36, the conductor 37, the conductor 47, one ot the lamps 17, the conductor 46, the other lamp '17 and back to t-he source of current through the return wire 45. As the contacts 36 are spaced a greater distance apart than the contacts 34, the interval of time between the illumination of the lamps a to t will be less thanthe interval between the illumination of the lamps 17, the latter being simultaneously illuminated.

ln addition to the mechanism described, the invention includes what may be termed a playeris counter indicated at 48. This counter is equipped with a plurality of separate push buttons or spring switches 49 which are connected across conductor wires 50 and 51, one of these switches being provided t'or each ot the transparent panels 18. A conductor wire 51 is connected to a suitable source ot current and has included therein a manually operated switch 52. rl"he conductor wire 50 is connected to one terminal ora solenoid 53, the other terminal of this solenoid being tapped on to a conductor 54. This last mentioned conductor is connected to one terminal 55 ot a spring actuated circuit breaker which includes a pivctally mounted arm 56 and a springcontact 57. The spring contact 57 is connected by means ot a conductor 58 to the motor 22 and the latter is connected by means of a condiact or 59 to the conductor 51. rlhe arm 55 of the circuit breaker is held in engagement with the contact 57 by means of a latch 60 which is carried by the core of the solenoid 53.

By .reference to Figure 9 of the drawings it will be seen that. normally current iiows from its source through the conductor 51, the conductor 59, the motor 22, the conductor 58, the Contact arm 57, the arm 56, the conductor 54 back to the source, a circuit being completed through the motor 22 so that the latter will be voperated to rotate the distributor arm 31 and illuminate the lamps a to t and the lamps 17, the latter being designated the main indicating elements and the former auxiliary indicating elements.

llVhenV one of the push buttons 49 is operated and the switch 52 is closed, current will iiow through the conductor 51, the par ticular push button 49 which is operated, the conductor 50, the solenoid 53, a conductor 61 which is tapped on'to the conductor 54 and through this last mentioned conductor to `the source of current. The solenoid will then be energized to release the pivoted arm 5G and interrupt the previously described circuit through the motor rlhe operation ot the distribiitor arm will then stop.

The player operatingthe push button i9 is expected to so time the operation that the distributor arm 3l will. stop with its contact finger 33 upon the contact corresponding to a particular panel 18.

rlhe push buttons 49 correspond in number aud arrangement with the lamps a` to 2f and are correspondingly indicated at a2, 52 and so forth, one push button being assigned to each player, Should the player operating button a? close a circuit through the solenoid 53 to stop the operation of the motor with the distributor arm in position to illuminate the lamp a, the player is awarded a prize of a certain value. Should however the player open the motor circuit and stop the distributor arm to illuminate both the lamp a and the lamps 17, an award of a greater value will be made. Should the player open the motor circuit and the distributor arm stop to illuminate a lamp or auxiliary indicating element other than the lamp a he is not entitled to a prize.

The above described manner of using the device may of course be varied, that is, the lamps d to t and the lamps 17 may be given a ditte-rent significance. In addition, the invention is susceptible of various changes in its minor details of construction and operation and the right is reserved to make such changes as properlv tall within the scope ot the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In an amusement device, a plurality of electrically operated main indicating elements, a plurality of electrically operated auxiliary indicating` elements, means to intermittently operate the auxiliary indicating elements, means to intermittently operate the main indicating elements, the interval of time between the operat-ion of said main indicating` elements being different trom the interval of time between the operation ot the auxiliary indicating elements and manually operated means for interrupting the operation of said elements.

2. In an amusement device, a plurality of electrically operated main indicating elements, a plurality oi electrically operated auxiliary indicating elements, means to intermittently operate the auxiliary indicating elements, means to intermittently operate the main indicating elements, the interval of time between the operation of said main indicating elements being diiierent from the interval of time between the operation of the auxiliary indicating elements and manually operated selective means for interrupting the operation of said elements.

8. In an electrically operated amusement device, a plurality of main indicating element-s, means whereby the main indicating` elements may be intermittently operated, means whereby the auxiliary indicating elements may be intermittently operated and means whereby operation oit the auxiliary indicating` elements may be controlled to retain one of said main and auxiliary elements in active position simultaneously with or independent-ly of the main indicating elements.

4. In an electrically operated amusement device, a plurality of main indicating elements, a plurality of auxiliary indicating elements, means including a movable member common to both the main and auxiliary indicating elements whereby said elements may be intermittently operated, electrically operated means tor operating the movable member and selective means whereby said movable member operating means may be controlled.

- 5. In an amusement device, a plurality of electric indicating elements, means whereby certain of said elements may be successively operated and means to operate other elements simultaneously with the successively operated elements and manually operated means for controlling the operation of said elements to provide di'lierent combinations.

6. In an amusement device, a plurality of electric indicating elements, means whereby certain of said elements may be successively operated and means to operate other of the elements simultaneously with the successively operated elements and manually operated selective means for controlling t-he operation of said elements to provide different combinations.

7. In an amusement device, a plurality oi electrically operated main and auxiliary indicating elements included in normally open circuits, an electrically operated distributor mechanism for intermittently controlling said circuits, a motor included in a normally closed circuit and operatively connected to the distributor mechanism for the operation of the latter and manually operated means whereby the motor circuit may be interrupted to selectively control the indicating elements.

8. In an amusement device, a plurality of electrically operated main and auxiliary indicating elements included in normally open circuits, an electrically operated distributor mechanism tor controlling said circuits, a motor included in a normally closed circuit and operatively connected to the distributor mechanism, a circuit breaker included in the motor circuit, a solenoid included in the circuit breaker and a plurality of normally open switches connected in parallel with the solenoid, whereby when one 0f the switches is operated a circuit may be established to act-nate the circuit breaker and interrupt the motor circuit.

9. In an amusement device, a plurality of electrically operated main and auxiliary indicating elements included in normally open circuits, an electrically operated distributor mechanism 'for controlling said circuits, a motor included in a normally closed circuit and operatively connected to the distributor' mechanism, a circuit breaker included in the motor circuit, a solenoid included in the circuit breaker and a plurality of normally open switches connected in parallel with the solenoid and corresponding in number to the auxiliary indicating elements, whereby when one of the switches is operated a circuit may be established to actuate the circuit breaker and interrupt the motor circuit to stop the operation of the distributor mechanism when a circuit is completed 20 through any of the indicating elements. v ln testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

SAMUEL B. KISER. 

